Daily News

Former Anglican Priests: What About the Families? (6736)

With many married clergymen coming into the Church, logistical problems arise.

PRIEST AND FAMILY. Father Ian Hellyer with his wife, Margaret, and growing family, prior to his ordination.

– Courtesy of the Hellyer family

When Father Ian Hellyer, a Catholic priest in England, figures his personal budget, he faces concerns that are unusual for a Catholic priest: He must consider the needs of his wife, Margaret, and their nine children.

A former Anglican clergyman, Father Hellyer was ordained in June into a Church that by and large has not had to provide for men with families. He is a priest of the personal ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham, a newly erected diocese for former Anglicans. It was created under the provisions of Pope Benedict XVI’s Anglicanorum Coetibus, which made it possible for former Anglicans to come into the Catholic Church in groups.

A similar ordinariate is expected to be up and running soon in the United States, perhaps by the end of the year.

Some men who seek ordination as Catholic priests are coming from affluent parishes.

“Episcopal clergy are expected to be paid at a professional level,” said Father Ernie Davis, a former Episcopal priest and father of three.

Father Davis cautioned: “If you’re looking at the bottom line when you make this decision [about whether to seek ordination as a Catholic priest], then this isn’t the place for you.”

Episcopal clergymen in the United States often get in touch with Father Christopher Phillips, another former Anglican priest who is pastor of Our Lady of the Atonement, an Anglican-use parish in San Antonio, Texas, to inquire about becoming Catholic priests.

“I put a fatherly arm around them and say, ‘Don’t think you are going to be able to live like you have been living,’” Father Phillips said. Like Father Davis, Father Phillips came into the Church under Pope John Paul II’s 1980 pastoral provision, a precursor to Anglicanorum Coetibus.

Clergy from the “continuing Church” movement — breakaway Episcopal churches, which tend to be less lavishly endowed — may face less financial shock, Father Phillips said, because “they are more used to putting cardboard in their shoes.”

“When I finally discerned that God was calling me to full communion with the successor of St. Peter,” said Father Hellyer, “we had no idea of what our future income might be or where it would come from.

‘The Lord Will Provide’

“We knew we could survive on our savings for a while if we cut out luxuries and non-essentials,” Father Hellyer said of the transitional period before he was ordained a Catholic priest. “Then, too, the Catholic members of our extended family rallied around, deciding they had to support us in our step of faith. Also, lots of different people sent us gifts, which we never expected.

“We also had the assurance of the words that the Holy Father had said to Msgr. Keith Newton [ordinary of Our Lady of Walsingham]. Father Keith asked the Holy Father how he was to make provision for the priests and their dependents. The Holy Father replied, ‘The Lord will provide.’ So it was an act of faith to believe that, if we were doing God’s will, he would provide for us.”

Fortunately, it was a sentiment shared by Father Hellyer’s wife.

“My wife, Margaret, has been a tower of strength,” he said. “Over and over she has said resolutely that if this is God’s will, he will provide. Even the monsignors of the ordinariate have been amazed by her strength, not least because of the size of our family.”

When Father Jonathan Redvers Harris, a Church of England canon lawyer and father of five, who was ordained to the Catholic priesthood in June, decided he was called to the Catholic priesthood, his family had to make a significant sacrifice: their house. Father Redvers Harris lived in what is known in the Church of England as a “parson’s freehold,” a vicarage to which the vicar holds title as long as he serves as a priest in good standing. “It is a very strong form of security,” he admitted.

The family now lives in a rented house, paid for by the local diocese, which Father Redvers Harris said has been “very generous.” The Redvers Harris family now pays utilities and the council tax (more than $3,500 a year), expenses previously picked up by the Church of England. Also lost was an insurance policy worth nearly $100,000 to his wife, Wendy, in the event of her husband’s death.

Still, Father Redvers Harris said that his monthly clergy allowance, when supplemented with additional priestly work, “probably is not so very different from my C of E stipend.”

“Our two school-age children won’t have noticed much difference to our lifestyle, which is neither impoverished nor lavish,” he said. “We shan’t be having a family holiday this year, but we live on the Isle of Wight, which is a beautiful place. There have been many signs of God’s goodness and provision, I have to say.”

‘Privilege of Being a Priest’

Our Lady of Walsingham eventually will pay clergy allowances based on the families’ needs, even taking into consideration the wives’ ability to earn. The information to formulate a pay scale is being collected now. “We’re doing a bit like the early Christians,” said Father Redvers Harris, adding, “I do hope the chap with nine children will receive more than I do.”

A new charity, Friends of the Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham — led by such luminaries as the Duke of Norfolk, head of one of England’s oldest Catholic families; the journalist Charles Moore; Lord Nicholas Windsor, a Catholic convert and member of the royal family; an assortment of Benedictine monks and others — has been established to help the ordinariate financially.

The St. Barnabas Society, which helps clergy from other faiths make the transition to the Catholic Church, and the Confraternity of the Blessed Sacrament, formed as an Anglo-Catholic group, have also contributed financially.

It should be noted that Anglicanorum Coetibus recognizes that some formerly Anglican priests will need to take secular jobs.

Since the personal ordinariate has yet to be established in the U.S., it is more difficult to predict its financial aspects. But a number of priests who already have come into the Church under Pope John Paul II’s pastoral provision may show the way.

Father Eric Bergman of the St. Thomas More Society in Scranton, Pa., brought a number of parishioners with him into the Catholic Church, and they have tithed to support the Bergman family. He and his wife, Kristina, have six children. The priest also contributes earnings from his speaking engagements to the church.

A mailing list of sympathetic donors also helps the St. Thomas More Society. Father Bergman said people want to contribute because “we are a missionary endeavor, and we are always making converts.” He says his salary may be less, but not that much, than his salary in the Episcopal Church. (His group sends its contribution to the local diocese, which in turn sends him his salary — something that could change when the ordinariate is established.)

When Father Phillips of Our Lady of the Atonement first came into the Catholic Church, a group of former Episcopalians asked him to come to Texas and help them build a church. They cobbled together a salary of $1,000 a month. The result of their efforts was Our Lady of the Atonement, 700 families strong and boasting a parish school with more than 500 students.

“I realized that the children were my responsibility, and so I looked around for extra work as a priest — and there was loads of it,” Father Phillips said. “It also didn’t cost anything to live in my rectory. We ate a lot of macaroni and cheese, and my wife, JoAnn, got cramps from cutting out coupons. It wasn’t difficult, and the return is fabulous — the privilege of being a Catholic priest.”

Now the Archdiocese of San Antonio pays him the same stipend as any other priest — reportedly under $1,300 a month.

Father Redvers Harris in England agreed: “Life may be a bit more insecure. But, surely, you would agree that it is a good thing to be traveling light in this life, if we want to shape our lives around the life of Christ.”

Comments

I know a number of wives of Catholic (Eastern and otherwise) and Orthodox priests. Most see their roles as a vocation; a spiritual mother of the parish, a support to the women in the congregation, someone who encourages her husband in his call and ministry. Certainly can be problems in clerical marriages just as there are in many marriages. It might not always be an easy life but seen as a “vocation within a vocation” it is for many a joyful life. Wives of priests have their own love for God and this encourages them in their call. I think that most women who marry men who will be ordained have an idea of what they are “getting into” and love their husbands as well as his vocation.

I have never met a priest’s wife who was a “poor me” kind of woman.

Priests I know who are friends of clerical couples respect the wives and as one celibate priest stated, “She is like a sister to me.”

Posted by Miriam on Sunday, Aug 28, 2011 9:52 AM (EDT):

In persona Christi. In the person of Christ.

The CC has already said that she cannot ordain women to the priesthood. Why are people so adamant about changing the CC? The church is not going to ordain women nor change any other doctrine for dogma. The celibacy rule for a priest can change because it is a discipline but doctrine does not change.

Other churches can have all the female pastors they want but I don’t want a female “Father”.

Posted by William Kator on Wednesday, Aug 24, 2011 6:28 PM (EDT):

So when will the Cathoiic Church recognize/permit women priests in the Episcopal Church to join the Catholic Church as ordained priests? Women are also made in the image and likeness of God. Women do have a call to ordained ministry, just like men. i know of women priests who desire to return to the Catholic Church as priests.

Posted by Maria on Monday, Aug 22, 2011 1:02 PM (EDT):

This is a temporary situation in the Latin rite, right? I worry about putting in place permanent arrangements for married priests, when that is not intended to be a permanent or “customary” practice.

Posted by Fr Barry Tomlinson on Saturday, Aug 20, 2011 3:42 AM (EDT):

There seems some misunderstanding about Church of England clergy. We pay our own utilities out of our stipend, and our pensions are paid by the Church of England. The state contributes nothing.

Posted by Gene on Saturday, Aug 20, 2011 12:55 AM (EDT):

Charles points out the diminished time for pastoral duties intrinsic with married clergy. However, I think of the present situation where one celibate priest often must serve two parishes. The addition of a married priest with family into this equation would certainly lessen the pastoral time demanded from each. Additionally, a married pastor with family has a unique perspective to offer the congregation: A good role model for how families should live and interact.

Posted by Maggie McConnell on Friday, Aug 19, 2011 6:43 PM (EDT):

I didn’t see any complaining here: rather, a beautiful story of how God iIS providing, as the Pope knows He will. And a lovely testament to how UNmaterialistic these priests and their families are. If you don’t care to contribute, Jill, fine. No one is asking you to and God will raise up others who will feel it a privilege to give up a few luxuries or treats to give something to these priests which God has brought to The Catholic Church in its time of need. And in accordance with their consciences which have obviously been troubled by changes in the Anglican/Episcopal churches. God bless them!

Posted by Fr Steve Woodland on Friday, Aug 19, 2011 5:37 PM (EDT):

This is uncharted territory for the RC Church. Given a little time, a just solution will be found. Certainly, some of the ‘parish life directors’, lay folks who function in lieu of priest-pastor, seem to be, if not affluent, at least secure. Congregations and finance councils will, of course, need to adjust. But Protestant congregations have been providing for married clergy for a very long time. We can learn something from them and develop the knack for it.

Posted by Charles Eble on Friday, Aug 19, 2011 5:06 PM (EDT):

Finances are only one of the concern in having married clergy. Even more important, is the time necessary to pastor a flock and/or to be a husband and father to the wife and children especially if you have 9.

Posted by stefano on Friday, Aug 19, 2011 4:44 PM (EDT):

Married clergy in the Church is not “new”. The Eastern rites have always had married clergy continuing in the middle ages when the Latin west moved away from it. The West (Latin rite) today has over 17,000 married deacons in the U.S. alone and growing @ 1000 per year. They provide on average 20 hours per week in the Church uncompensated (unless they hold another Church job such as DRE or business manager in addition to diaconal duties) while maintaining their own homestead, family, outside employment, etc. Then there are the laity working in the Church for far less compensation that the priests receive. Celibate priests, although having meager salaries, do have benefits such as rectories, lawncare, maintenance, maids, cooks, healthcare, retirement, gifts, etc., etc. When it comes to compensation, the Church is rife w/ compensation injustices such as described above regarding many who toil in the vineyard.

Posted by John M. on Friday, Aug 19, 2011 3:36 PM (EDT):

As an Anglican/Episcopalian I have no animus against any of these priests or families and wish them Godspeed on their spiritual journey. Obviously there have also been RC priests who have swum the Thames so to speak, as well, and we have welcomed them.
I’m wondering though about pensions. Are these former C of E and TEC priests still expecting TEC parishioners to fund their retirement? In England it might be partly a state responsibility, but obviously that’s not the case here in the U.S. I wish the author had touched on that issue.

Posted by Gene on Friday, Aug 19, 2011 2:13 PM (EDT):

Relevant subject with a sad indictment.
While it is true that support of Catholic education is an added financial burden for many families, many other Catholics who could tithe, don’t do so. I believe this is essentially because in past generations, Father and Sister were single, generous and willing to live frugally.
Obviously, with a family, a pastor has a moral responsibility to reasonably provide for their welfare. Sadly many dioceses, largely due to the financial crisis resulting from clergy abuse has made it difficult for bishops to adequately address the financial need of married clergy.
My prayer is that we as Church will be blessed with many more married clergy and that parishioners willingly tackle the financial challenges.

Posted by Jared on Friday, Aug 19, 2011 1:33 PM (EDT):

I can definitely see why many married Catholic priests support non-married clergy. It has been a few years since I lived in San Antonio, but Fr. Phillips used to get a good work out when his old volkswagon would run out of gas.

Posted by Jill Sawicki on Friday, Aug 19, 2011 10:58 AM (EDT):

This bothers me….the catholic church promotes lifelong sacred sacramental marriage and an openess to children by making the use of birth control a sin…and then complains about married priests with large families and not being able to provide for them? Are you kidding me? How are we lay people suppose to provide for our ever-growing families when the church can’t even provide for it’s own priests? Wow!

Join the Discussion

We encourage a lively and honest discussion of our content. We ask that charity guide your words.
By submitting this form, you are agreeing to our discussion guidelines.
Comments are published at our discretion. We won’t publish comments that lack charity, are off topic, or are more than 400 words.
Thank you for keeping this forum thoughtful and respectful.